Device for inserting crystals in bezels and rings



E. a. LOOMIS. DEVICE FOR INSERTING CRYSTALS IN BEZELS AND RINGS. APPLICATION FILED NOV.- 25 I I918.

.1,344,700. I Patented June 29,1920.

- IVE/VTOR,

/54 ATT Mrs UNITED STATES ATENTVOFFICE.

EVARTS G. LOQMIS, OF NEWARK, NEW' JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Application filed November 25, 1918. Serial No. 2643136.

To all 10/1012]. 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Evanrs G. Locate, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Devices for Inserting Crystals in Bezels and Rings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for inserting thin resilient disksin watch bezels or in grooved rings. It relates particularly to the insertion in watch bezels of unbreakable concavo-convex tensional crystals, of the kind disclosed in the Ames Patent No.

. 1,133,780, issued March 30, 1915. A crystal of this type is made of a resilient disk of transparent celluloid or similar material, of a diameter substantially greater than that of the bezel-groove which it is to occupy, the disk being held by the bezel in concavoconvex form, under tension, when the structure is assembled. The disk accordmgly requires to be thrown into precise dished condition, and while in this form and tensioned, its flexible edge must be brought within the small bezel-groove in order that it may seat itself circumferentially therein upon the removal of the temporary holding forces.

' One of the objects of the present inventi n is to provide means whereby these operations can be performed quickly and ef- 'fectively.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description and'from the drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the preferred embodiment of the device, .the device being shown open with a crystal disk in waiting position, and a bezel carried upon acentering surface; I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary'sectional view, showing the device closed and flexing the crystal, the bezel being in receiving position; v

Fig. 1 is an elevation of another form of male member: and

Fig. 5 is'an elevation of still another form of male member.

As illustrated, the device comprises a stand 1 having a central base 2, provided with screw holes 3, for securing the same to a table, a short standard 4, and widely-d1- verging yoke-arms 5 and (3, the whole being preferably of approximate Y-shape, as shown.

The arm 5 has a horizontal i11\.'ardl y-facing socket T, which receives a stem 8, projecting from a female pressure-member 9 preferably formed in this instance of a short cylindrical block having a central opening 10 therethrough. whereby the block may be applied and frictionally and ren'iovably held upon an extension 11 of said stem, against the collar or abutment 12. The stem in rear of said collar isformed as a journal capable of turning within the socket T as a bearing, a thrust ball 13 being placed between the end of the journal and the back of the socket. A. radial set-screw 1-1 is inserted in the socket wall with its ext-ren'iitv projecting into a circumferential groove 15 in the stem 8 to hold the same against with- Clli "a1.

The other arm 6 is made with a horizontal througlbopening 16, which is screw-threaded and alined with the socket 7. This opening receives a pressure screw 17 carrying a hand-wheel 18 at its outer end, the inner end of the screw being formed with a bear 'ing-socket 19 containing a thrust ball 20 and a journal stem 21 pertaining to a male pressure-member 22. As 111 the case of the female member 9, the said stem 21 is provided with an extension 23 and a collar 24. Upon the extension 23 is removably mounted a male member 22 which has a central bore 25 for receiving the extension 23.

The member 9, it will be observed, is

formed upon its inner end face with a circular shallow concavity or female pressure surface 26, which curves equally in all direcplaced between them will be flexed from the flat: initial condition of Fig. 1 to the uniformly, bowed-shape indicated in-Fig. 3, this change "reducing the diameter of the disk and placing it under tension, by virtue of which it tendsto resume its original form. The cylindrical surface 28 of the male member is designed to form a centering guide and carrier for the bezel 7), the diameter of said surface being accordingly made to receive the bezel with a substantially accurate sliding fit. it ring 29, also slidable on said surface 28, serves as a follower, whereby the bezel may be held evenly against the abutment Z31. on the female member 9 when the parts are in the closed'position of Fig. 3. At such time the front of the bezel will bear against the female member at 01' adjacent the edge of the concavity EU, or else the back of its groove may contact with the edge of the crystal, depending somewhat upon the precise form and proportions of the bezel and crystal, but in either event the support limiting the forward movement of the bezel to a position insuring reception of the crystal is afforded by the female member.

In. operation, with the parts separated in the manner seen in Fig. 1, a disk (L is placed and held by hand with its beveled edge in the mouth of the concavity 26, which is made of proper diameter for this purpose and which accordingly serves to center the disk with respect to the pressure surfaces and the bezel. A bezel having been slipped over the male member 22 in front ofthe follower 29. the said member is then advanced by means of the hand-wheel and screw until the convex face of the male member is brought against the disk, which is then flexed into the concavity of the female member and thereby tens-ioned as previously stated. At this time the bezel is pushed forward by the ring 29 in the manner above described. In so doing the forward edge of its undercut groove does not encounter the beveled edge of the crystal because of the virtual reduction in the diameter of the latter, and the bezel is thus disposed in a receptive position around the crystal which will seat itself as soon as the tension is removed. Accordingly the operator continues, with the fingers of one hand and preferably through the agency of the follower ring. to hold the bezel against the abutment 31 on the female member, while with the other hand he backs up the male member 22 suliiciently to permit the crystal to slip into firmly-seated engagement with the bezel-groove. The male member is then withdrawn farther by the screw means 17, the assembled bezel and crystal are taken off, and the-"ring 29 is pushed back in readiness for another bezel. The swiveled mounting of the female member is desirable in connection with the centering of the parts, and the swivel connection between the male member and the pressure screw enables this member to be independent of the turning movement of the screw.

it will be understood that various male and female members differing in form and proportions may be used interchangeably. Fig. at shows a form of male member 22, the bezel-centering surface 28 having the rear portion cut away or relieved, this style of member being suitable for bezels which are hinged to their watch cases. Fig. 5 illustrates still another form of male member 22", which is formed with a rear rim 30 to prevent the bezel from slipping oil at the back. Portions of these members corresponding to similar portions of the member shown in Fig. i hear the same reference nume'als, with super characters a and b respectively. If desired, either of the two alternative forms may be used with the ring 29.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction herein illustrated and described within the purview of this invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A device for assembling bezels U1 grooved rings with tensional crystals comprising horizontally disposed relatively movable members affording concave and convex pressure surfaces cooperating to throw the crystals into tension and reduce their virtual diameter, one member sustaining and guiding the bezel or ring into crystal-receiving position and the other member being of larger diameter than the first-mentioned member to limit the movement of the bezel or ring into crystal-receiving position.

2. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings with tensional crystals, comprising horizontally disposed relatively movable male and female members affording concave and convex pressure surfaces cooperating to throw the crystals into tension and reduce its virtual diameter, the male member sustaining and guiding the bezel or ring into crystal-receiving position, and the female member being of larger diameter than the male member and limiting the movement of the bezel o1\ring in a forward direction when the said bezel or ring is in crystal-receiving position.

3. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings with tensional unbreakable crystals comprising a stand, cooperating pressure elements, one of which receives the crystal and the other of which supports the bezel or ring, means for advancing and retracting one member into and out of engagement with the crystal, and swiveled mountings for both members.

4. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings with tensional unbreakable crystals, comprising a stand, male and female members thereon for flexing the crystal into concavo-convex form. means for advancing and retracting the male member, means for positioning the bezel-or ring. and a swivel mounting for said female member.

5. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings withtensional crystals, comprising a stand, a female member for receiv ing the crystal, a male member for supporting'the bezel or ring, the male and female members being supported by the stand in horizontal position, means for advancing and retracting the male'member into and 'out of engagement with the crystal, and

swivel mountings for said male and female members.

6. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings with tensional crystals comprising a stand, a crystal-receiving member, a bezel-receiving member in alinement with the first-named member, said members being supported by the stand in horizontal posi tion, swiveled mountings and thrust bearings for said members, and means for moving one member into engagement with the crystal to place the. same under tension and maintain it in position to receive the bezel.

7. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings with tensional crystals, com- )risin a stand a or stal-receivin femaleb v 7 member, a male member in alinementwith said female member for receiving the bezel or groovedring, the male and female members being supported by the stand in horizontal position, swivel mountings and thrust bearings for said male and female members, and means for moving said male member into engagement with the crystal to place the same under tension and maintain it in position to receive the bezel.

8. A device for assembling bezels or grooved rings With tensional crystals, comprising a stand, a female member for receiving the crystal, a swivel mounting for supporting the female member on the stand, a male member for supporting the bezel or ring, a swivel mounting for said member, and a member having screw-threaded con nection with the stand for advancing and retracting the male member into and out of engagement with the crystal.

This specification signed and witnessed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1918.

EVARTS G. LOOMIS.

Signed in the presence of- (JHARLES L. AnoLPH, ESTHER B. HELLER. 

